11 “Novel” Ways to Design a Home Library

While a dedicated room just for reading feels like a luxury, the standard elements of such a space are pretty basic—good natural or artificial lighting, comfortable seating, and strong shelves. If you’re a book lover in need of a place where you can read undisturbed, take some inspiration from these 11 reading rooms, which run the gamut from cozy to clever to cool. Whether you have a vaulting two-story space at your disposal or only a tiny closet, you’ll find some smart ideas in these book lovers’ lairs.

Taking advantage of a ton of books and lots of wall space, an open staircase with a wrought-iron banister mirrors the shelving style, providing visual appeal and connecting the first and second floor. 

Make the most of your A-frame attic or home by taking the shelves right up to the roofline, creating an interesting and functional feature to a top-floor reading room.

Dark shelves, a classic leather sofa, and a plaid ottoman give this space elegance, while natural light from the double French doors and high window aids reading and adds warmth. Accent lights call attention to a row of art books used as a display, drawing the eye up.

Twin wall sconces and a velvet sofa enhance the recess in this wall of books, providing a cozy seating area amidst the light shelves.

Incorporating a feature
wall of books instead of trying to carve out a separate reading room makes sense for open-concept homes. This two-story space employs a mixture of woods and white walls, keeping the reading room bright, modern, and central to the home.

Ready to dive into The Odyssey? Then you need a truly epic reading room. This beautiful family library, complete with a catwalk, is cozy and classic, featuring wall sconces and a comfy bench seat with drawers underneath.

Why have just one reading room when you can have two? This floor-to-ceiling open wall provides shelf space for books and magazines, while the large windows offer natural light and a view of the greenery outdoors.

With this laddered, kid-friendly library wall, half the fun of reading a book is getting it down. The built-in bench is a great place to flip through a picture book and could provide space for additional shelves as the kids and library grow.

A blue-gray color palette, washed oak floors, and an unusual angle over built-in seating makes this reading alcove light and airy. Recessed shelves and deep drawers provide extra storage, while inset light fixtures keep things bright.

Do you have little ones but no space for a reading room? Good news — teeny tiny readers need teeny tiny reading rooms. Formerly a closet, this book nook now offers shelves and comfy cushions for the smallest readers.

This delightful reading room steers away from traditional dark wood shelves yet stays classic with its blue and mustard palette. Accent lights illuminate the book collection, and a timeless leather chesterfield anchors the space.

If you’re interested in more about cool homes, consider: 

10 A-Frame Homes that Deserve an A+

12 Unconventional Homes Inspired by Nature

12 Hobbit Houses to Make You Consider Moving Underground